(1) 
The coroner, as provided in RCW 68.50.010, shall have the responsibility for accepting jurisdiction for the remains of a person that is unclaimed, if seven business days after the death of an indigent person, no person, relative or responsible officer of a church organization with which the deceased was affiliated (RCW 68.50.070) claims responsibility for the disposition of the decedent's remains.
(2) 
Whenever friends, a church organization or appropriate relatives, who have legal responsibility for disposing of the remains, as identified in RCW 68.50.160, claim the body, Jefferson County shall not accept jurisdiction or financial responsibility for disposition.
(Formerly 2.15.020; Ord. 5-00 § 2; Ord. 12-24 § 2)
The coroner, with assistance from the county sheriff's department or other law enforcement agencies, shall attempt to notify relatives, friends, or religious organizations that may desire to claim responsibility for the disposition of an indigent decedent's remains. If no friends, relatives or church organizations are found to accept responsibility for the disposition of the remains, the coroner shall accept jurisdiction.
(Formerly 2.15.030; Ord. 5-00 § 3; Ord. 12-24 § 2)
The coroner, after accepting jurisdiction for the disposition of indigent unclaimed human remains, shall arrange for the transportation and final disposition of such remains at county expense.
(Formerly 2.15.040; Ord. 5-00 § 4; Ord. 12-24 § 2)
(1) 
The county administrator or designee shall review and, after appropriate inquiry, grant or deny applications for the reimbursement of the cost of final disposition of the remains of any indigent person who dies within the county and whose body is unclaimed. Application shall be made in the form specified and provided by the county administrator. The person making the application shall certify that the application is for the payment of the cost of final disposition of a person who: (a) died within the county, (b) is indigent, and (c) whose body is unclaimed, and that the information contained therein is true under penalty of perjury.
(2) 
In determining whether an unclaimed decedent for whom application is made is indigent, the following shall be considered:
(a) 
The decedent's estate and resources, including, but not limited to, real estate, personal property, cash, bank accounts, contents of safety deposit boxes, nursing home trust accounts, veterans death benefits, workers' compensation, Social Security death benefits, life insurance or burial insurance;
(b) 
Any person on public assistance at the time of death is presumed to be indigent.
(Formerly 2.15.050; Ord. 5-00 § 5; Ord. 12-24 § 2)
A special account to be known as the Jefferson County indigent remains account shall be created for the purpose of paying all or any part of the cost of burial of the remains of any indigent person who dies within the county and whose body is unclaimed.
(Formerly 2.15.060; Ord. 5-00 § 6; Ord. 12-24 § 2)
Upon approval of an application for reimbursement for the cost of disposal of the unclaimed remains of an indigent person, the county shall pay a sum in accordance with the county's agreement with the funeral establishments.
(Formerly 2.15.070; Ord. 5-00 § 7; Ord. 12-24 § 2)
It is the intent of this chapter to provide for disposal of the unclaimed remains at county expense only in those cases where there are no available funds belonging to the deceased, the deceased's estate or held in trust for the deceased by any person or entity. In the event such resources are discovered after the county has paid for disposal of the remains, the prosecuting attorney is authorized to pursue recoupment of any amount expended by the county where such effort appears to be cost effective.
(Formerly 2.15.080; Ord. 5-00 § 8; Ord. 12-24 § 2)